Major Requirements

Engineering

Engineering degree requirements--- Specific requirements for the four-year bachelor's degree programs in engineering are summarized below.

General requirements for engineering degrees---B.S. and B.A.

  • No more than one engineering course with a grade lower than C- will be counted toward the engineering major.
  • Computer programming proficiency (by course or examination).
  • At least eight course credits in arts, humanities, or social sciences, including at least two courses chosen to achieve depth in one subject area within these disciplines.

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by one of the following courses: ENGR 212L, 221L, 232L, 301L, 307L, 308L, 323L, 362L, 431, or 484.

Bachelor of science in engineering

  • Basic mathematics/science core: MATH 131, 132, 231, 234; CHEM 111L; PHYS 131L, 231L, and another science or mathematics course approved in advance by the department chair. For example, PHYS 232L, PHYS 300, MATH 228, or MATH 305.
  • Engineering core: ENGR 212L, 225, 232L, and 312.
  • A year-long senior capstone design project requiring enrollment in ENGR 483. Capstone Design-I in the fall semester and ENGR 484. Capstone Design-II in the spring semester is required.

Beyond the general requirements listed above, students pursuing the B.S. in engineering must choose one of the options below. Completion of a concentration is noted on the final transcript.

  • Electrical engineering concentration---ENGR 221L, 301L (or 303), 307L, 308L, 323L, plus one elective chosen from the following list: ENGR 110, 120, 226, 301L, 302, 303, 311, 314L, 316, 325L, 337, 353, 357, 362L, 372, 401, 431.
  • Mechanical engineering concentration---ENGR 226, 325L, 337, 362L, 372, 353 (or 431), plus one engineering elective chosen from the following list: ENGR 110, 120, 221L, 301L, 302, 303, 307L, 308L, 311, 314L, 316, 323L, 353, 357, 401, 431.
  • Biomedical engineering concentration---BIOL 140L; ENGR 301L (or 323L), 311 (or 316), 353, 357 (or BIOL 319) plus three electives (at least two from 300 level or above) chosen in consultation with engineering faculty adviser from ENGR 221L, 226, 301L, 302, 307L, 308L, 311, 316, 323L, 325L, 357, 362L, 372, BEACON or University of Hartford courses, e.g., biomaterials or biomedical image processing. BIOL 319 is recommended as the natural science elective for BME concentration. If BIOL 319 is taken as the science elective, then ENGR 357 must be taken.
  • Computer engineering concentration---CPSC 115L, 215L, plus one appropriate upper-level computer science course, and ENGR 221L, 307L, 308L, and 323L.
  • Without concentration---Engineering electives, bearing at least seven course credits, chosen from the following list: either ENGR 110 or 120, 221L, 226, 301L, 302, 303, 307L, 308L, 311, 316, 323L, 325L, 337, 353, 357, 362L, 372, 401, 431, and BEACON or Rensselaer at Hartford courses approved by the department chair. Electives must be chosen to ensure sufficient engineering design content.

Bachelor of arts in engineering

  • Basic mathematics/science core: Math 131, 132; PHYS 131L, 231L, plus two elective courses (with approval by the department) chosen from mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, neuroscience, or computer science.
  • Engineering core: ENGR 221L (or 212L), 225, 232L, plus three electives (at least two must be above 100 level and at least one at 300 level, excluding ENGR 102, 341, and 342).
  • A one-semester senior capstone design project: either ENGR 483 or 484 that integrates engineering with subjects from a chosen cognate area.
  • Four courses from a cognate department or program: chosen in consultation with the faculty adviser; these courses must achieve depth of study in the cognate area.

Environmental science pathway--- The B.A. elective pathway in environmental science introduces engineering students to the fundamentals of environmental science fieldwork and methods, and provides a broad understanding of the natural environment and the impact of human behavior. It requires completion of a one-semester senior capstone design project with an environmental engineering component.

Requirements for the Environmental Science Pathway of B.A. in engineering

Completion of the general requirements of B.A. in engineering, with the following modifications:

  • In mathematics/science core: one of the two-course combinations CHEM 111L and 230L, or BIOL 182L and 333L, or ENVS 112L and 204L.
  • Two of the eight course credits in the arts, humanities, or social sciences must satisfy the social sciences and humanities requirements for the environmental science major (ECON 101 and one course chosen from the list of courses; see Environmental Science).
  • ENGR 337, ENVS 149L, ENVS 275L, ENVS 401, and one additional engineering course at 200 level or higher.
  • ENGR 484. Capstone Design II, including completion of a one-semester research or design project with an environmental engineering component.

Cognate courses--- Engineering majors are encouraged to select, in consultation with their faculty advisers, courses from the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences that address individual interests and broaden educational perspectives. Additional courses in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and neuroscience enrich basic scientific understanding and address the special interests of students; such courses are highly recommended. Students intending to enter graduate study in engineering are advised to elect mathematics courses beyond the four-course basic mathematics sequence. Recommended areas include probability and statistics (MATH 305, 306), linear algebra (MATH 228), numerical analysis (MATH 309), and mathematical methods of physics (PHYS 300).

Honors---To be eligible for honors in engineering the student must: (1) Earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 in all engineering courses; (2) earn an overall GPA of at least 3.3; (3) earn a grade of B+ or higher on the engineering senior capstone design project.

BEACON courses--- Additional courses in biomedical engineering are available through the Biomedical Engineering Alliance and Consortium (BEACON), which includes the University of Hartford, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Connecticut Health Center. For details regarding days and times courses are offered, as well as course descriptions for each semester, consult the BEACON Web site (www.beaconalliance.org).

Study away--- Engineering majors are encouraged to study abroad for one semester in the junior year. Students who plan to study abroad must contact the engineering department chair as early as possible, even before major declaration, to develop an individual four-year course plan.